Meet Shuntrice Smoot: Poet, Mother , Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shuntrice Smoot and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shuntrice, what inspires you?
I am inspired by my life. I’m lifted at the fact that my life can be a creative canvas that produces inspiration for other people. Imagine turning a moment of turmoil to inspiration for someone currently in the place that you were once in. Think about the worse of the worse that can happen to someone. Think divorce, think welfare, think multiple miscarriages, all of those are multiple milestones I have experienced in my life. I call them milestone because in their own right growth was generated. I’m no fool, I know that none of that feels good because I have lived it. I also know that someone else can benefit from me having to live I those tough moments whether it felt good or not. Creativity gives me room to paint a picture of victory and triumph all in one piece. It allows me to do that however I choose. It allows me to create beauty out of something ugly. We are always taught to find the bright side, but we are not taught that the bright side is right there in the moment and that we don’t have to go looking for it, we just have to be willing to except it and or identify with it. Creativity gives us a lens to see what we didn’t know existed. The mode of creativity that I use is poetry and there have been so many times in which I heard me performing poetry as, “Oh that little poetry thing that you do”. Yet again it is all in the lens in which you look. To the person that heard a poem performed and decided not to attempt suicide for a third time it is really a big thing, or to the child who acted out because they had no way of expressing themselves, yet them hearing a poem performed inspired them to write their own poem thus leading to better behavior. That is a big thing to them and their parents I am sure. Let us be clear that I am not out looking for things to happen to me and neither am I looking to play the victim. I however though will flip that thing at the blink of an eye. This is how I live my life I be darn if I go through something and get nothing out of it, and or watch someone else to endure, and not allow them to benefit from me having already endured it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ms. Shuntrice Smoot ( Sassy the Poet) , M.ED is a native of Newberry SC. Currently a certified Master Financial Literacy Teacher, and Extreme Execution Coach. She attended Ashford University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in public administration. She furthered her education and pursued a Master’s in Education, specializing in assessment and early childhood education all still at Ashford University. She later received her Extreme Execution Certification by the world- renowned motivational speaker Dr. Eric Thomas. Professionally Ms. Smoot has served in education a total of six years. For three of those years she has worked in Career and Technology coaching students toward career readiness. Ms. Smoot has coached students’ past barriers of communication transitioning students from non- talking to talking. Her specific goal setting techniques has aided students in accomplishing high standing academic, and athletics. Her personal coaching has helped young adults and adults alike take their focus off of tragedy and focus on their education. She has helped students to develop healthy habits that will allow them to be highly effective in their area of choice. She has worked in various settings coaching all ages, community agencies, and non-profit organizations. She is the owner of Brave Chance Consulting LLC a coaching and consulting firm . In addition to being in education she is a poet whom offer writing workshops that supports healing. She was the 2017 grand champion for slam team injustice. Currently Queen of the South poetry Slam winner. She is the author of Conversations of a Growing Woman, Right Side Strong Side A playbook for Every Christian and currently the Podcast host for Conversations of A Growing Woman. This podcast has 55 episodes and has aired in 7 countries. She uses her life trials to impact others with her words. She is a passionate poet that believes in the words she speaks. A person that uses her words with purpose. She uses her words to heal herself and others. She speaks with conviction as she minister to her patrons. Beautifully articulate, daring, crowd winning poet. Every word captivates from the beginning to the end. Will keep you on the edge of your seat! Thought provoking, heart gripping, tear jerking poet. Every thing that I do is a result of something that I have had to live through . These are not accomplishments rather they are reminders of the things that I have had to overcome in my life . Is it hard yes, does it require discipline yes, and yes I have wanted to give up , but my life won’t allow me to. Lessons that I have learned 1. Look for the beauty in the small things 2. You cannot grow if you are not willing to 3. You can make your body do whatever you set your mind to 4. You are crazy , but the world needs your kind of crazy 5.The sooner you discover you , the sooner you will know what is and is not for you 6. Put God first and in everything pray 7. Run up against the very exact thing that you are afraid of 8. Hold them accountable , but do not blame them anybody can be used at any given time and not be aware of it . 9. Always be willing to forgive , not for them but for you because you need to be free so that you can be effective 10.Faith is just simply seeing what other people cannot see . 11. Dream big and smile hard

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would first go to a local fun park and ride go carts , play video games . Then we would go downtown and grab ice cream walk look at the view and dream . We would leave there and go hiking and hit up pretty place . Spend time breathing and give gratitude. We would go back down night that night and do poetry , afterwards hang out with some poets call it a night . The next day we would grab some jamaica mi irie . Talk junk to each other , read the bible of course discuss it and watch super hero movies .

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family is my greatest support system and honestly I consider the people around me i.e. friends as family as well . Here is the thing in my family eyes there is nothing that I cannot do . In moments of heart ache they are there , in moments in which I want to give up they are there pushing me forward . I am always reading so anyone that has made an impact has pretty much mentored me.

Website: www.shuntricesmoot.com
Instagram: Shuntrice_sassy_smoot
Twitter: Shuntrice Smoot
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Other: www.Bravechanceconsultingllc.com/wordpress